Knowing The Word in Luke 1:64-66

Zechariah's Mouth Opened

1:64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Comments

Having been obedient to God’s charge to name his son John, Zechariah was finally able to speak for the first time since seeing Gabriel. The first thing he did was praise God. The neighbors were awe-struck. There was not just gossip going on in the countryside, but people were storing up treasures in their hearts from seeing and hearing these events. God was doing something in their midst and would do more. How does all of this begin to promote the gospel? The people would keep an eye on John. He was no ordinary boy, and he would lead no ordinary life. There was expectation in the air. Ironically, Elizabeth and Zechariah, who were well beyond the normal age of child-bearing years when their son was born, likely did not live long enough to see John’s full-blown ministry, but many of the people who were there for his circumcision would.

Application

During difficult and demanding time, we often cease to praise God, seeing life as cursed instead of as a blessing. Praising God turns the table on circumstances, acknowledging that God is still God no matter how we feel or how things go. Of course, the biblical example of certain psalms and other stories is that godly people also bring their complaints and anger to the Lord, for he can surely take it. But it is in praising that we enter back into our vital, living, and life-giving relationship with our God.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, you move among us opening our lips so that we can proclaim our praise to you and to the Father and to the Son. You lead us in our worship, and you help us when we pray. Encourage us today in our prayers and praises to be mindful of who we are as daughters and sons of God the Father and sisters and brothers of God the Son.